Definition: Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Leviticus 17:12. It's a really important rule about how we treat people – particularly foreigners visiting our land. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it says: “Do not eat blood.” Let’s unpack that: “Therefore I said unto…” : This is like a leader speaking to their followers. It's a command or instruction from Moses. “…the children of Israel” : This refers specifically to the Israelites who were in a place where they were temporarily staying, often during times of travel or when they were visiting. “No soul of you shall eat blood…” : This is the core of the rule. “Soul” means life itself – the vital essence of a person. It doesn’t just mean their physical body. It means everything that makes them a person, like their spirit and their very being. “neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood.” : This is where it gets a little more complicated. “Stranger” refers to anyone who is visiting from another land – someone who isn't part of our community. So, this verse specifically prohibits eating blood from anyone who is temporarily staying in Israel. Why was this rule established? The Bible says this law was given because the Israelites had been practicing a very disturbing and dangerous practice: sacrificing animals to God. This practice was causing problems for the nation and bringing them into conflict with other people. This verse was designed to protect the Israelites from being consumed by violence and to maintain peace between them and the rest of the world. In short, it’s a rule about respecting human life – particularly the life of strangers. It highlights the importance of hospitality and avoiding harm to others. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you some context for this passage in the Bible? Answer any specific questions you have about it?